Midway bets

ABSTRACT

A method of playing a conventional game of Craps with an improvement including the step of placing a bet on the Craps game being played where the bet is independent of the game being played and of other bets being made during the game is disclosed. The step of placing a bet further includes betting that the next throw of the dice in the Craps game will result in a 6, 7, or 8 being thrown.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed toward a game of chance and more particularly, toward a game that allows a player to place a bet during a game of Craps where the bet is independent of the game being played.

Many people enjoy playing games of chance and more particularly, casino games where bets may be placed in a wide variety of games. Typical games of chance involve the use of cards, dice, or a rotatable wheel of some sort, such as a Roulette wheel or a slot machine.

One very well known, fast-paced, and popular casino game is Craps. Craps is a dice game and may include some rather complex rules and betting procedures. However, some people, who otherwise enjoy playing dice games or are new players, may not feel comfortable playing or may not understand the play of the game of Craps because of the number of rules of the game, the complexity of the rules, or because of the variety of bets that may be placed during the game. Also, the game traditionally requires four dealers, thereby further complicating the game.

Variations and modifications of the basic game of Craps have been introduced and are played in casinos where the rules and bets have been simplified but do not lessen the excitement of the game. Other games have been introduced that add even more rules and bets that may be placed.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,471 to Bonito describes a dice game that is a variation of the game of craps. Specifically, the traditional game of Craps has been modified by removing some of the wagers, adding others, and modifying other wagers thereby seeking to create a less complicated dice game that may be easier to understand and that is easier to deal.

Some, however, may want to place a wager, or otherwise be involved with a game of Craps but do not want to actually play the game. Therefore, a need exists for a method of placing a wager on a Craps game but allows the person placing the wager to have little or no understanding of the game and also allows the person to place a bet randomly and independently of the rules and bets of the game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is designed to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art discussed above. It is an object of the present invention to provide a game that allows a player to place a bet during a game of Craps that is independent of the game being played.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of playing a game that allows a person to have little or no understanding of the game of Craps.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of placing a wager randomly at any time during a game of Craps.

In accordance with the illustrative embodiments demonstrating features and advantages of the present invention, there is provided a method of playing a game. The method of playing a conventional game of Craps includes the steps of a shooter making a pass line bet at the pass line bet area on a craps table; the shooter throwing a pair of dice on the table for an initial come out of the shooter wherein if a 7 or an 11 is thrown, the pass line bet wins, if a 2, 3, or 12 is thrown, the pass line bet loses, if a number other than a 2, 3, 7, 11, or 12 is thrown, that number establishes a point number, once the point number has been established, the shooter will continue to throw the dice until the shooter either: throws the point number again thereby making a made point number in which case the shooter may throw the dice again, or throws a 7 resulting in sevening out and the shooter forfeiting throwing the dice again. The improvement comprises the step of placing a bet on the Craps game being played, the bet being independent of the game being played and of other bets being made during the game. The bet may include betting that the next throw of the dice in the Craps game will result in a 6, 7, or 8 being thrown. A payout schedule is established by using a mathematical analysis.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A conventional game of Craps is played on a table with a retaining wall. When the dice are thrown along the length of the table, the wall prevents the dice from falling off of the table. The table has various designated areas with indicia that are used to place various types of bets. The types of bets that may be placed are point bets, field bets, hard number bets, come bets, and no come bets, for example. Players are positioned around the table. Each player may roll the dice or become a “shooter.”

A conventional method of playing a game of Craps essentially includes the steps of a shooter making a pass line bet at the pass line bet area on a craps table and the shooter throwing a pair of dice on the table for an initial come out of the shooter. If a 7 or an 11 is thrown, the pass line bet wins. If a 2, 3, or 12 is thrown, the pass line bet loses. If a number other than a 2, 3, 7, 11, or 12 is thrown, that number establishes a point number. Once the point number has been established, the shooter will continue to throw the dice until the shooter either: throws the point number again or throws a 7. If the point number is thrown again, the point number is made and the shooter may throw the dice again. If a seven is thrown, a sevening out has occurred and the shooter forfeits throwing the dice again. Other modifications and variations on the basic game described above are well known.

The present invention includes the step of placing a bet on the Craps game being played. The bet is independent of the game being played and of other bets being made during the game. The bet may include betting that the next throw of the dice in the Craps game will result in a 6, 7, or 8 being thrown. The bet may be placed at any time during the game and by anyone. A payout schedule is established by using a mathematical analysis.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention. 

1. In a method of playing a game of Craps comprising the steps of: a shooter making a pass line bet at the pass line bet area on a craps table; the shooter throwing a pair of dice on the table for an initial come out of the shooter wherein if a 7 or an 11 is thrown, the pass line bet wins, if a 2, 3, or 12 is thrown, the pass line bet loses, if a number other than a 2, 3, 7, 11, or 12 is thrown, that number establishes a point number, once the point number has been established, the shooter will continue to throw the dice until the shooter either: throws the point number again thereby making a made point number in which case the shooter may throw the dice again, or throws a 7 resulting in sevening out and the shooter forfeiting throwing the dice again, wherein the improvement comprises: the step of placing a bet on the Craps game being played, said bet being dependant on the next roll of the dice but being independent of the game being played and of other bets being made during the game, said bet may be placed at any time during the game and by anyone.
 2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said step of placing a bet further includes betting that the next throw of the dice in the Craps game will result in a 6, 7, or 8 being thrown.
 3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein a player who bet that a 6, 7 or 8 would be thrown is paid based on a payout schedule if a 6, 7, or 8 is thrown and loses if it is not.
 4. The improvement of claim 3 wherein the player is paid based on a predetermined payout schedule. 